THE majority of fans in a bumper crowd of 444 at Woodhorn Lane went into raptures when the Colliers clinched their place in the last 32 with a dramatic injury-time winner.

It was Roy of the Rovers stuff from the first minute until the last.

Ahead courtesy of an own goal, Ashington conceded the equaliser before the interval – but were then boosted as Rushden went down to 10 men in the 50th minute.

Unable to make the advantage count, the Colliers also had a player sent off on 89 minutes and extra-time loomed.

But Gary Middleton’s side just love to keep their supporters on tenterhooks and not for the first time this season, they came up trumps right at the death.

Chairman Ian Lavery would like nothing better than for the fans to have a day out at Wembley – and his manager Gary Middleton and the players are equally committed.

Middleton said: “It took a bit of quality to win what was an extremely tough tie.

“We lacked quality in the second half but it all came good deep into stoppage time with one special effort.

“James Taylor produced a great diagonal pass and Andrew Johnson pulled off his defender, taking a first touch before finishing into the bottom corner of the net.

“It’s what the Vase is all about and the players and supporters enjoyed fantastic celebrations.” The first chance fell to Rushden, but Jake Newman dragged his left-foot shot wide of Karl Dryden’s post.

It was the Colliers who struck first courtesy of an own goal. Darren Lough found Johnson and when his cross reached the middle, captain Chris Hope turned the ball into his own net.

Only a great tackle by Liam Atkin and then a good stop by Mark O’Dea halted Newman, who twice progressed into the box and at the other end Marc Walton was off target. Just before the interval, the visitors came more into the game and equalised six minutes before the break.

Sam Brown’s right-wing corner was headed past Dryden by Newman.

Within a minute of the restart, Dryden saved magnificently from Sean McBride and Johnson cleared Rushden goalkeeper Quincy Shorunmu but unfortunately for Ashington, he was too high.

Rushden went down to 10 men in the 50th minute, with Jake Gillingwater shown red for preventing a clear scoring opportunity when he fouled Johnson.

The Colliers, though, were unable to make the advantage count and a minute from the end of normal time they had Craig Scott sent off following a melee in the goalmouth.

It looked as if Ashington’s chances of making it into the next stage before extra-time had ended but with four minutes added, Johnson drilled a left-footed effort into the corner of the net to start wild celebrations.